Filing appliance.



H. J. HIGK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10,.1911.

Patented Mar. 4,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. J. HICK.

FILING APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1911.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

z minim-5111:1212.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY-J; men, or ALLIANCE, 01110, Assrenonro THE MQCASKEY REGISTER com-manner- ALLIANCE, 01110, A CORPORATION or 01110.

Fume ABPLIANCE.

To all whom it may'concem Be it'known that I, HARRY J. 'HICK, a citizen of the-United States, residin at Alliance, in the .county of Stark and tate of Ohio, have invented certain. new and use- 5 ful Improvements in and Relating to Filing Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to filing appliances adapted for the filing of papers, and similar articles, whereby they may be readily filed and kept together under suitable he'adlngs or titles and removed at will.

]For the purpose of illustration, I have, in the accompanying drawin shown and herein described one form 0 filing appliance embodying my invent-ion.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa filing appliance embodyin my invention, the near side of the casing eing broken away'to expose the leaves or frames to view. "Fig. 2

is a fragmentary perspective view of the up-- per edges of: the leaves removed from the casing. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of the upper portion of one of the leaves. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the leaves. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the index carryingdevices. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of one of the end leaves.

In the drawings :-1 indicates a casing or housing, which lmay be of any suitable or referred form of construction. illustrated comprises a bottom 1, side walls 1", a back 1 and a latform or base l -extending from one si e wall to the-other. 2

clined or operated. The pivotalsupport- I ing means for the separate leaves preferably comprise'pivot' devices 2, which hingedly or pivotall-y connect one l'eaf with or relative to the adjoining leaf or leaves of the series. The'jseries of leaves may be sup- "ported upon stationary pivots, such as 3, at

- its front end. fWhen the leaves are provided with pivot devices of this type, their operation separately or in groups from the'vertical position to the horizontal position. op-

- erates to move the lower edges of the leaves remaining in the vertical position for'-.

The. one

H Patented Mar. 4., '1' 9 13.

wardly When those leaves in the horizon-. tal posltion-are swung into thevertical po-' ,sition, the vertical leaves assume their norgmal positions.

4 indicates a bar or rod which is pref- :erably pivoted at-one end relative to the back 1. This bar or rod carries at or near its opposite or free end a device, such as a latch, indicated at 4, which engages with the upper or free edge of the front leaf and serves to hold or look all the leaves 2 in normal position. By pressing upwardly on the bar, the latch 4 is disengaged from the front leaf 2, whereupon the'said leaf and each succeeding leaf can be operated. The bar or rod 4, after bein released from the front leaf, may be move hpwardly and arranged in either a vertical orinclined osition and serve as a guide forthe rear eaf. Each leaf 2 comprises-a bad: 2, a hinge or supporting bar 2* along its lower edge, a series of strips 2 on one'or both of its faceS',. and a series .of paper or slip supporting clips 2 arranged on one or both faces of said leaf. The back is preferably formed of sheet metal which may be extended along its lower edge and bent into a hollow member, preferably of rectangular shape, to serve as the hinge bar 2".

The clips 2 are preferably formed of resilient. wire and may carry a plate 2 on which may be shown the name or heading or other signaling index device such as a number or letter under which the papers or slips filed behind the clip are classified. The strips 2 are separated from each other to divide the adjacent leaf into spaces or pockets to receive the papers or slips. They I also extend longitudinally from end to end of the leaf and parallel to each other, one strifp being arranged along either edge of the lea to protect and strengthen the adjacent edge thereof. In additionto their functions as s'trengthening'and pocket forming means for the leaves, the strips 2 also operate to space each leaf fro-m the adjoining leaf whereby asuitable space is provided to receive the papers or slips filed behind the clips without danger of.v their engagement with the papers or clips on the ad oining leaf. For this purpose, the strips 2 on' one leaf are preferablyalined with the strips'2 on the adjoiningleaf.

42 indicates a pin or rivet which secures each stri 2"or' one stri 2on one face of-a leaf and another strip on the opposite face of the leaf, to the back 2 thereof. As many pins or rivets 2 for each strip or alined strips may be used as desired.

5 indicates an index support or supports mounted on the upper or free edge of each leaf 2 on one or both sides thereof. The purpose of this support is to hold or supportthe signaling, guiding or index devices for each leaf in a position where each and all of them can be plainly seen. Such positioning thus effects a quick perception to the eye and mind of the operator, and results in permitting a quick and accurate manipulation of the leaves. These supports 5 extend laterally to a point substantially coinciding with the outer edges or surfaces of the strips 2 and cooperate with the index supports 5 of the adjoining leaf or leaves to entirely close the space between the leaves. As the opposite end leaves of the series of leaves are provided with filing spaces or pockets'on their inner faces, they are provided with only one index or signal support 5, as shown in Fig. 6.

In the:' illustrated form of the construction, the signal supports of each leaf are formed by extending the back 2* at and along its upper edgeand bending such extended port-ion longitudinally first at right angles, as shown at 5 then bending or doubling the metallic sheet on itself along a parallel longitudinal line and carrying it upwardly in an inclined direction to form an inclined wall 5 The metal is then bent along a longitudinal line, preferably in the plane of the back 2 and extended downwardly to form the inclined wall 5. Preferably the free edge of the metal is bent inward, first in a direction perpendicular to the back 2e, as shown at 5 and then parallel to the back 2*, as shown at 5. This latter portion may be secured rigidly to the back whereby the index support will be supported on both sides of the leaf and the adjacent leaf strengthened against twisting or bending stresses.

As will be apparent'from Fig. 2, the inclined walls 5, 5, of each leaf carry suitable index or signaling devices which indicate to the operator the particular headings or file spaces carried by that leaf. Since the walls 5', 5, are inclined, it will be seen that the index or signaling devices are supported in a manner to meet the vision of the eye and thus facilitate the quick and accurate operation of the leaves. When the leaves 2 are in normal position, all the index or signaling devices on corresponding walls adjacent the front sides of the leaves are in view; and when the leaves are in a-ghorizontal position, the index or signaling, devices on corresponding walls adjacent the rear sides of the leaves are in view. v

In. order that the index or signaling devices can be quickly applied to the leaves,

-as well'as changed or renewed at will, I

provide a clamp plate 6, on which is printed or otherwise shown an index or signaling number or letter. This plate is formed of resilient metal and shaped to fit over or around the walls of the space closing index support-ing devices for each leaf; This plate 6 may be placed in position, such as illustrated in Fig. 4;, or removed, by spreading its free ends, the resiliency of the metal operating to hold it in position on the supporting walls or devices. As shown in the drawings, the plate 6 is shaped and formed to lie in close engagement with the inclined walls 5 and 5 of the supports or devices 5. The index or signaling devices are arranged out of line with each other from front to rear, as shown in Fig. 2, in order that they can be more clearly seen and distinguished from each other.

7 indicates a recess formed in the upper edges of the index carrying walls of certain of the leaves. These recessesare arranged in the index carrying walls, so as to be im mediately in front of the index or signaling device for the adjoining rear leaf in order that said device will be wholly exposed to view. As the supports of devices are hollow, it will be seen that the forming of the recesses 7 in thewalis 5", 5, provldes two free edges 7, 7 between. the ends of each recess, slightly separated from each other by an opening. The leaves can be operated, by placing the finger or fingers of the operator in the recesses, the near edges of the walls forming the recesses affording good gripping edges by which to operate the leaves' -As will be seen from the drawings, the

extended metal at the upper edge of each leaf or frame is bent into triangular shape, preferably of equilateralform, its base lying in a plane perpendicular to the back 2 and its apex in a plane coinciding therewith. It will also be understood that the laterally projecting walls 5 and 5 prevent the papers or slips in the upper row of pockets on the leaves from working up'or slipping out.

To those skilled in the art of making filing appliances of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. .My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

1 A filing appliance comprising a support and a series of frames mounted thereon. and arrangedto swing individually or collectively relatively thereto, each frame comprising a back having an index supporting'wall arranged at an acute angle to the plane 'ofsaid-back and extending from end to-end of the back along its free edge.

2. A filing appliance comprising a support and a series of frames each having a ack pivotally mountedatone end to swmg relatively to said support, the back being formed of metal which is extended at its opposite end and bent toform an inclined index supporting wall arranged at an acute angle to the plane of said back, and the free end of the metal bent inwardly for engagement with the back.

3. A filing appliance comprisinga support and a'series of frames mounted thereon and arranged-to swing individually or collectively relatively thereto, each frame comprising aback having a pair of index supporting walls arranged'at an angle to each other and each at an angle to the plane of said back, whereby when each frame is in one position one of its said index supporting walls is exposed to the eye of the operator and when in. another position its other index supporting wall is so exposed.

4. A filing appliance comprising a support and a series of frames mounted thereon and arranged to swing individually or collectively relatively thereto, each frame comprising a back having an index supporting wall arranged at an acute angle tothe plane of and along the free edge of saidback, the said wall engaging and co6perat= ing with the wall of the adjoining frame to close the space between the frames.

5. A filing appliance consisting of a series of frames of uniform shape'and size eachcomprising a back hinged at one end to the adjacent ends of the adjoining frame backs in said series and each frame back having at its free end an end wall arranged at right angles to the plane of said back and an index supporting wall arranged at an acute angle to the plane of said back.

6. A filing appliance comprising a series of frames of uniform shape and size each comprising a back hinged at one end to the adjacent ends of the-adjoining frame backs in said series, and each frameback carrying .a pair of index supporting walls, the walls of each pair being at an angle to each'other and to the plane of' theback.

7. A frame for a filing appliance, comprising a back of relatively thin material having at its upper and lower edges, re spectively, hollow longitudinally disposed strengthening members, one being a iinge bar and the'ot-her being an index support, one wall of which is inclined to the plane of the frame to expose the indexsupported thereby. v 8. In .afiling appliance, the combination of a series of lea es mounted to swing relative to each other, and a plate carried by each leaf along its free edge, the saidplate being-bent along a longitudinal line to form inclined walls extending in opposite directions relative to the lane of the leaf. 9. In a filing app iance, the combination of a'series of leaves mounted to swing relative to each other, a plate carried byeach leaf along its free edge, the said plate being bent along a longitudinal line to form inclined walls extending in opposite directions relative tothe plane of theleaf, and a removable index-carrying plate fitted over said inclined walls.

10. In a filing appliance, the combination of a series of leaves mounted to swing rela tive to each other, a plate carried by each leaf along its free edge, the said plate being bent along a longitudinal line toform inclined walls extending in opposite directions relative to the plane of the leaf, the opposite outer'longitudinal edges of the inclined walls cooperatin with the outer longitudinal edges ofthe inclined walls on adjoining leaves'to close ,thespace between adjoining leaves. a 11. A leaf for .a'filing appliance formed from sheet metal and comprising a back, tire metal at one end of said back bemg extend d 12; A leaf for a filing appliance formedfrom sheet metal and comprisin a back, the metal at one end of said back being extended and bent along longitudinal lines to form a hollow bar substantially triangular in cross section the base ofwhich lies in a plane sub stantially perpendicular to the said back and the sides thereof formin supports for signal devices, the free end 0 the metal be- .and' bent along longitudinal lines to form a ing arranged parallel to theadjacent face of v the back and secured thereto.

13. A leaf for a filingappliance formed fro-mslieet metal and comprlsin a back,.the metal at one end of said back being extended and bent along longitudinallines to form a hollow bar substantially triangular in cross section, and the metal along the opposite end of the back-being extended to form a hollow hinge bar.

' 14. A leaf for a filing applianceformed from sheet metal and comprisin aback, the metal at one end of said back being extended and bent along longitudinal lines to form a hollow bar substantially triangular in cross section, the walls of saidbar being cut away to form a space betweenthe' inclined sides of the bar to receive the finger of the operative in operating the leaf.

15. A filing appliance comprising a support and a series of frames mounted thereon and arranged to swing relatively to each other, each frame comprising a back. an inclined wall carried by said back along its free end for supporting an index and a support between the outer end of said inclined wall and the back.

16. A filing appliance comprising a support and a series of frames mounted thereon and arranged to swing relatively 'to each other, each frame formed from sheet metal and comprising a back and an index supporting wall formed integral with and inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to theback when it is in upright position.

17.'A leaf for a filing appliance comprising a back having an index support triangular in cross section and supported by the said back intermediate the ends of one of the sides of said triangular support.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,in the presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY J. HIGK.

Witnesses MILTON BEJACH, -HENRY F. PoLLocK. 

